In a society that encourages competition and rewards putting hours of hard work into a task, it can be easy to forget that your well-being deserves just as much attention. While smartphones have become an essential part of completing work and school-related tasks, they can also help when all you want to do is slow down and assess other aspects of your life. Whether you want to improve your life in a specific way or simply need a gentle reminder to do something nice for yourself, these four apps can help you achieve your goals.

Editor’s note: These apps are not a suitable alternative for the knowledge and advice of a mental or physical health professional.

Sleep Cycle

Even if you aren’t able to get eight hours of sleep, waking up at the right stage of sleep can greatly improve how you feel during the day. Sleep Cycle tracks users’ sleep by using their phone’s accelerometer or microphone and attempts to wake them up with a relaxing alarm sound during light sleep. This method gets users as close to a natural wake-up as possible, according to its website. Sleep Cycle also records trends in users’ sleep, providing daily, weekly and monthly statistics.

Sleep Cycle is free for iOS and Android.

aTimeLogger 2

If you ever wonder how much time you really spend working on homework compared to watching Netflix, aTimeLogger 2 can help. The app allows users to track how long they’re at work, traveling, sleeping, watching TV, at the gym and more. They can then categorize their data and create reports spanning across different time frames, which can then be exported to a computer. The app also allows users to set time-based goals once they learn which areas they want to devote more or less time to.

aTimeLogger 2 costs $2.99 and is available on iOS and Android. The original aTimeLogger is available for free on both operating systems. 

Pacifica

Pacifica allows users to track their moods, thoughts and general health to better understand which factors contribute to their own stress or anxiety. Then, using components of cognitive behavioral therapy, users can work toward modifying or eliminating these factors, tracking their progress. Pacifica also gives users the option to join a variety of chat groups with people who are working on changing similar aspects of their lives.

Pacifica is free for iOS and Android and has a web version.

Balanced 

Maybe you don’t drink enough water. Maybe you’re swamped with school and haven’t spent meaningful time with your friends lately. Maybe you just want to make time to sit down and read. Whether you want to improve your health or just remind yourself to have some fun, Balanced lets you set time-customized reminders for yourself. 

Balanced is free and available on iOS.

Staying healthy and ensuring a clear, productive mind is one of the most important aspects of a person’s life and growth. Download one of the apps and give it a go.